A historic home with textural appeal
TEXT Jasmine Bible + PHOTOGRAPHY Thom Gaines, Outside In Photography
After designing residential spaces, commercial spaces, optical retail, and showrooms for High Point and Las Vegas, by the time interior designer Gini Crowder- Marshall arrives home, she’s ready for a tranquil oasis.
The owner and principal designer at HIVE Interior Design, based in Asheville, NC, gave us a glimpse into her own home, located in the historic Montford neighborhood.
From early childhood, Crowder-Marshall knew she wanted to be an interior designer when rearranging the furniture in her family home was a regular occurrence. After receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, she spent time in Europe working as a manager for a large store that specialized in high-end antiques, and cut her teeth running the store and creating displays. She’s gone on to become an in-demand designer in North Carolina, Nevada, and California. “I’ve loved every job! And I’ve never once doubted my career choice,” she gleefully shares. A healthy obsession with textures and patterns has kept her intrigued all these years.
Crowder-Marshall now balances between 15-18 clients at a time, with a mix of commercial and residential spaces. “After spending so much time with so many patterns and colors, it’s important for me to come home to a calm and serene space,” explains Crowder-Marshall. For a bit of respite from the stimulation overload, Crowder-Marshall has chosen a calming, pastoral palette for her historic 1929 home. “There is minimal color inside, the only color comes from the outside,” says Crowder-Marshall, who is an avid outdoor enthusiast. The vibrant greens, lush foliage, and an abundance of natural light spill in through the French-style casement windows.
The large bay window at the front of the house is unusual for the era of the home, and was a main selling point when the Crowder-Marshalls originally purchased. Below the bay window sits a re-upholstered 1959 Henredon sofa, originally manufactured in North Carolina. Adjacent is the supple Le Corbusier leather sofa, which plays nicely with the Caracole coffee table. The sleek modern lines of the coffee table offer a nice juxtaposition to the fur throw and soft rug below. “I took a very textural approach with this room. I wanted to bring organic elements back in,” says Crowder-Marshall. Though the pieces have a sophisticated and mature appearance, the fabrics are all kid friendly.
Throughout the rest of the home, Arteriors light fixtures play a starring role. In the entry, an Arterior chair brings a bit of humor into the home, “we call it our ramen noodle chair,” laughs Crowder-Marshall.
In the kitchen, a bank of windows draws the eye through the space. Marble countertops and satin nickel hardware reflect the natural light. For the draperies in the dining and living room, a natural fiber linen was chosen. “I can still remember the first time I touched linen,” recalls Crowder-Marshall. She uses linen for all of the family’s bedding, for its quality and feel, adding, “wrinkles are part of the beauty.”
To connect with Crowder-Marshall, visit hivedesignco.com
We shared this story with you in our Fall/Winter 2017 Issue of NEST Magazine. To view the full issue, click here.